More than 140 spent Shabbat in West Orange, NJ for the Our Way Annual Family and Singles Shabbaton. Highlights of the included davening interpreted into American Sign Language, workshops for parents, singles, and teens, and a special camp program for the children. Speakers included Dr. Ronald Hoffman, Director of The Cochlear Implant Center at New York Eye and Ear, who addressed the parents concerning navigating their child’s hearing loss; Jennifer Rosner, author of “If a Tree Falls”, her perspective and experience raising two deaf daughters; and Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, National Director of NJCD/Yachad, who addressed the single participants concerning social skills and dating. A panel discussion discussed triumphs and difficulties growing up deaf and hard of hearing in the Jewish community. Our thanks go to Batya Jacob, National Program Director for Our Way, who ran the event, assisted by Michelle Goldberg, Associate Director of the Jewish Deaf Singles Registry, and Our Way Assistants Yossi Globman and Darby Yusapov.
